A Look Under the Hood at History’s Most Significant Engines

Knowing exactly what bait attracts car enthusiasts, the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan, hosts an Engines Exposed party every year. While visiting this horsepower show, we picked 28 favorites from the more than 60 engines on display, taking the liberty of including one aircraft engine, one train, and one motorcycle in our selections. (Most horsepower figures are SAE gross ratings.) The Engines Exposed exhibit runs through February 28, 2017, at the Henry Ford, which is open every day. Transportation curator Matt Anderson will share his expert insights at the museum's Drive-In Theater at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 18.

The inline-two-cylinder engine propelling Henry Ford's first prototype developed 4 horsepower from 59 cubic inches. It ran on ethanol and had automatic (atmospheric) intake valves and overhead exhaust valves.

Seeking publicity to energize his third attempt to build and sell cars, Henry Ford constructed and raced two of these monsters. The 999 was powered by an 1156-cubic-inch four-cylinder engine producing an estimated 80 horsepower. His record-setting 91-mph sprint across a frozen lake near Detroit entered the Ford name in the public's consciousness once and forever.

In the 20th century's first decade, steam, electricity, and gasoline all vied to become the preferred choice for automobiles. The two-cylinder compound steam engine shown here propelled White's Model G and developed 30 horsepower from 159 cubic inches.

To save cost and simplify construction, Ford's first volume engine used no pumps to circulate coolant and lubricating oil. Built in unit with a pedal-operated automatic transmission, this inline-four ran on a variety of fuels, producing 22 horsepower from 177 cubic inches in more than 15 million Ford Model Ts.

Best Fords of All Time

Four-wheeled motorcycles enjoyed their 15 minutes of fame, including this prototype powered by an air-cooled 10-hp V-2 Spacke motorcycle engine.

Early electric-car makers were desperate in their search for power. Far ahead of its time, Chicago's Woods Motor Vehicle Company combined a 14-hp Continental gasoline engine with a 6-hp electric motor. Prophetically, the Woods Model 44 offered both regenerative braking and battery charging on the roll.

Henry Ford and rival Cadillac founder Henry Leland produced more than 10,000 water-cooled SOHC V-12 engines for World War I aviation use. Weighing 845 pounds and producing 400 horsepower from 1649 cubic inches, this engine was used by more than a dozen aircraft manufacturers.

Those who regard double overhead cams and four valves per cylinder as modern attributes should ponder the Duesenberg J, which boasted those features in 1931. The J's 420-cubic-inch straight-eight produced 265 horsepower, later raised to 320 horsepower with supercharging.

Ettore Bugatti shunned convention to construct history's grandest limousines. His Royale's 12.7-liter straight-eight's block was cast integrally with the cylinder head and topped with one camshaft and three valves per cylinder. The 300 horsepower it produced gave this German-bodied cabriolet respectable performance for its day.

Developed in secrecy, Ford's epic V-8 brought power and speed to the masses. The first version produced 65 horsepower from 221 cubic inches. The same basic design stayed in production for 21 years, two more than the Model T's inline-four.

Four Harry Miller–engineered, Ford V-8–powered front-drive cars were entered in the 1935 Indianapolis 500, but all dropped out due to the same problem: steering failure caused by locating the steering shaft's universal joint directly above an exhaust manifold.

To maintain a respectful distance up the prestige scale from the wildly successful Ford V-8, Lincoln introduced a new 75-degree V-12 with aluminum cylinder heads and 110 horsepower. Although improved versions lasted through 1948, this engine never shed its reputation for poor reliability.

Harry Miller's engineering insights also made Cord automobiles technological leaders in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Distinguishing features included front-wheel drive, an independent front suspension, and electric gear selection for the semi-automatic transmission. The 812's 4.7-liter Lycoming V-8 produced 125 horsepower.

The most photographed object at the Henry Ford is also the largest engine in the house. Designed to haul coal up mountain grades, the Allegheny steam locomotive weighed 389 tons and produced 7500 horsepower. One pulling and a second pushing transported 140 loaded cars per trip until diesel locomotives retired them in the 1950s.

In the heat of combat, any lapse of reliability is devastating. The Go Devil inline-four powering World War II Jeeps was all but bulletproof in its delivery of 60 horsepower from 134 cubic inches.

Before the curtain dropped on his bold stroke, Preston Tucker produced 51 cars powered by a modified Franklin aircraft engine. This water-cooled, rear-mounted 334-cubic-inch flat-six produced 166 horsepower.

It was a miracle that Ferdinand Porsche's baby survived World War II. Over many decades, more than 21 million Volkswagen Beetles were sold, powered by noisy, not very powerful, air-cooled flat-four engines. The first edition, shown here, produced 30 horsepower from 1.1 liters.

Powel Crosley created the first affordable radios in the 1920s then tried home refrigerators before staking his reputation on tiny automobiles. An overhead-cam engine made of brazed sheet steel did not foster his cause. By 1951, the Crosley Hotshot's engine had evolved to more durable cast-iron construction and delivered 26.5 horsepower from 44 cubic inches.

One of the 20th century's prettiest coupes came from the factory with a 85-hp 170-cubic-inch inline-six in base trim, but in 1951 Studebaker shrewdly added a 120-hp 233-cubic-inch V-8. It won that year's Mobilgas economy run with an average of 28 mpg.

Late to the modern V-8 engine party, Chevrolet made amends with a design that is now showing signs of immortality. The first 265-cubic-inch version, as on this 1955 Corvette, inhaled through a four-barrel carburetor to make 195 horsepower.

Mazda MX-5 Miata History, from 1989 to Today

Complete History of the Chevy Corvette

History of the Electric Car, 1830 to Present

Ford Mustang: A History in Accelerating to 60 MPH

Car and Driver's 10Best Cars through the Decades

The Winningest Cars in 10Best History

Ford's F-Series Pickup Truck History

Camaro vs. Mustang: Complete History of Comparison

What to Buy: 1992–2000 Lexus SC300/SC400

The History of Honda Si Cars in America

A Visual History of the Honda Civic

A 1974 BMW 3.0 CSL Just like Grandpa Made Famous